This is the companion class weblog for 'An Introduction to Catalan Culture'

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Registered Members:
Secilie Kui
Mari Merta
Marjolein Kok
Rita Finsland
Philippa von Gottberg
Saskia Dirkson
Laura Wright
Gemma Loughhead
Riitta Ryhta
Kiki Visschers
Oystein Oostergren
Orjan Arvola
Inge van Zeist
Karoliina Arola
Janita Somero
Narges Kolahdouz Moghaddam
Nilo Rahmani
Jop Veldpaus
Mariska Verbeek
Jo-Anne Knoops
Heli Suomala
Petri Kemilainen
Sonja Theunissen
Milka Latipää
Patricia Van Wetten
Meike Grouls
Sophie Hickman
Carley Clark
Randy Karssemakers

Catalan Culture 2004 Class Blog

lunes, diciembre 08, 2003

Assignment 1

A few weeks ago we went with a few people (Kiki, Nilo, Jop, Karo, Patricia and me) to Tipiwakan... Somebody gave us a flyer about a Natural Tribal Party, where you could go to for €20,-. With this money you payed the entrance to the party, and two nights sleeping in a tipi!
At the party there would be Drum and Bass Music, reggae, didgeridooo workshops, massage, jam sessions, percussion and so on.
This all sounded really good to us, so we decided to go there! It was kind a adventurous trip, when we arrived at the trainsation manresa, in the middle of nowhere, but after 1 hour we arrived in the forest, at the place where the tipi´s were. The only strange thing was that there weren´t any people. Later we found out that the party had been cancelled because of the rain... What a pitty! Luckily we could sleep in the house next to the tipi´s and they gave us really nice rooms, we had a good time, but im still curious how the party would have been.... If you ever want to go there just check www.tipiwakan.org, i think it´s really worth going there,but before you go, check the weather!!



Assignment 2

The first person i questioned was a 26 year old catalan girl.For her the most important differences between Spain and Catalunya is the culture. Catalans havetheir own dances, parties and kinds of food. there are the castells, Sardana, gegants etc. This is tipically from Catalunya.

The second and third person i questioned were two ladies, also living in Catalunya and both around 55 years old. they said the main important differences are the traditions and language. The philosophy and way of thinking. Catalans want to be independent, we want to be free, politically, but also economically. We don´t want to do what Spain wants from us, but we want to follow our own philosophy. Spain doesn´t respect the way we think, and what we want. They don´t want that we speak Catalan, they don´t understand us.

The last thing one of the women said was: I´m first Catalan and because i HAVE to Spanish, but first Catalan!!

Assignment 3

Lasdt year i was also in Barcelona and it was for me the first time i saw how Catalans celbrate the day of the three wise. It´s celebrated from the 1st-6th January.
Several days before Twelfth Night, toy and sweet stalls are set up in different parts of the city, the most popular being those on Gran Via, between Muntaner and Entença. Towards the end of the year, royal pages or postmen collect letters from the city's stores, where children have posted them to the Three Wise Men.
On the night of the 5th, the children place a shoe on the balconies of their houses for the Wise Men to fill with sweets, as well as a bucket of water and food for their camels. On the 6th of january the cavalcade represents the arrival of the Three Wise Men from the East with their entourage, laden with toys. In Barcelona they arrive by sea, and are greeted by leading city officials in the port before a multitude of delighted children.

It all made me think a little bit of Carnaval in Holland, when we celbrate Carnaval there are also a lot of big lorry´s with dressed up people driving in a parade through the city, and they also throw candies to the children. The only thing we don´t have are the three wise...



by Meike Grouls



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